Obama Should Pursue Friendly Chinese Policy
Editorial, China View | December 12, 2008
Barack Obama’s approach towards China is unlikely to be confrontational in view of the current global situation. ++ The US has plenty of conflict to deal with elsewhere and needs Chinese cooperation in dealing with North Korea. ++ However, the increasing trade imbalance between the two countries is volatile. ++ It should be dealt with by lifting trade restrictions on Chinese goods. ++ Obama should resist pressure to attack China’s currency policy. ++ He should acknowledge that US and Chinese interests have become interdependent.
Sat, Dec 13th 2008, 01:12
Patrick Edwin Moran, Wake Forest University, Platinum Contributor (201)
America objects to trade imbalances, but they are merely the result of a favorable value/price ratio. America could repair it by permitting sale of high tech to China.
Ding's article ends by mentioning: "The two countries are enjoying an ever-deepening interdependence." However, it glides over factors that require harmonizing to achieve a functioning integration. There are presently many practical "contradictions" between the two. Ding is right to ask U.S. leaders the implicit question, "What is the meaning of your beginning each presidency with a confrontational attitude, which you later moderate?" It is also appropriate to seek clarification of U.S. motives in activities the article depicts as hegemonic, and to take a "trust and verify" attitude in regard to those actions that compromise Chinese security. The same clarification is needed regarding Chinese military build-ups. It is worthwhile to analyze failed U.S. economic policies, but indirectly threatening economic warfare and to frustrate U.S. interests will not prove helpful.
Ding glosses over several real issues, contradictions that need to be healed through analysis and integration: (1) Price/value ratios of goods are one measure of the suitableness of Chinese goods to U.S. markets, but the low prices of Chinese goods are based on sweat shop wages. The impact of foreign goods made with underpaid labor on the U.S. has been for the U.S. to tend more in the direction of savage capitalism. (2) There is perceived value, and then there are hidden liabilities such as the doctoring of watered milk to raise its apparent protein level. Chinese and U.S. economies cannot be harmonized while consumers continue to be endangered by greedy producers.
Chinese and Americans are friends and competitors. It is best to understand each other well to avoid needless strife.